Improved bed-bottom



UNITED STATES g PATENT OEEICE.

THOMAS FALLOON, OF LYONS, NEW YORK.

IMPRovED BED-BOTTOM.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 54,877, dated May 22, 1806.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, THOMAS FALLooN, of Lyons, in the county of Wayne and State ot' New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bed-Bottoms; and I do hereby decla-re that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

Figure l is a plan of my improved bed-bottom; Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section; Fig. 3, an elevation of the end of one slat, with its connecting parts; Fig. 4, a plan of the same; Fig. 5, perspective View of the transverse connection of the slats 5 Figs. Gand 7, perspective and plan views of one corner of the bedframe, showing more particularly the method of expanding the same.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gures.

"It is my design to employ an expanding frame resting upon the bedstead and sustaining within it the slats which areconnected thereto by elastic loops so arranged on rollers that their position may be changed at any time to obviate wear; also, to cover the ends of the slats with sheet-metal caps, and ,so connect them with the elastic loops that they may be easily inverted or turned over; and, furthermore, to employ a strap or straps of a peculiar arrangement across the slats, so that they may be kept in a proper position and tightened at any time.

A frame, A,Vis provided, made up of two sides, a a, andytwo ends, b b, dovetailed or otherwise suitably connected together, as shown at c, Figs. 6 and 7, and having wedges or keys d d, pressing in against the end pieces to expand them, as indicated by red lines in Fig. 1. This frame is of such form as to rest upon the bedstead and support the mattress. Within the frame are situated a suitable number of slats, B B, connected thereto and made elas tic by the following means: The ends of the slats are covered by caps f f of sheet metal, over which rest links or stirrups g g, held in place by pins h h, which pass transversely through the ends of the slats and project on oppositesides. Thesepinsrestlooselyin place, so as'to be easily removed. On the under sides of the links or stirrnps are small rollers M, and on bearings k k, connected with the end pieces, b b, of the frame, are similar rollers l l. The respective sets of rollers i Z are connected by elastic loops m m, of shirred rubber, or equivalent, as clearly shown.

The expanding frame and slats thus constructed t'orm a device applicable to any ordinary bedstead and adapted to receive the mattress. Thus, the trouble of litting each individual slat in place is obviated, and they are not becoming continually displaced, as in ordinary arrangements. A spring-bed is produced as effective and enduring as many more costly devices, and if at any time the slats sag or the elastics becomestretched, the frame `is easily expanded, so as to straighten them, by simply driving the wedges or keys d d.

I am aware of no other arrangement in which elastic slats have been used in combination with an expanding frame in such a manner as to make a whole adapted to use on any bedstead.

The employment of the sheet-metal caps ff serves to strengthen the ends of the slats, keeps them from battering and bruising, and also to receive the pressure of the links g g without denting or cutting. The oblique strain of the links on the ends of the slats would have a tendency to break the latter, especially if great weight were applied, as ot a person treading on the bed 5 but by thus sheathing the ends they are so shielded that no danger of this kind is incurred.

Whenever the slats become sagged or bentv the pinsl h h are partially or wholly withdrawn, (red lines, Fig. 4,) which allows the slats to be removed from the links and inverted. Each individual slat can thus -be turned independent ot the others and without detaching the elastic loops from the frame.

The employment of the rollers i Z, connected with the elastic loops m m., enables the loops to be turned to any position without diflculty. lf the loops are allowed to remain in one position at all times they soon wear at the points of bearing and becomes worthless. It' turned to different positions the wear .is equally divided over their whole surface, and they are not only much more enduring but more effective.

The slats are connected transversely by one or more straps, D, fastenin g at opposite ends to buckles p p, or equivalent, having small rollers i" 1', over which pass elastic loops s, connecting in a similar with the sides a a of the frame. In order to allow the slats to be turned over, as before described, I provide the strap or straps D with loops q g, Fig. 5, in which they turn. This arrangement keeps the slats in their proper position laterally, and still gives them the requisite degree ot' elastieity to lcorrespond with that of the ends; also connects the sides of the frame, so that the same cannot press outward too much. YThe loops q are indispensable in allowing the slats to turn.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the elastic slats B B and the expanding frame A, as a whole, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

THOMAS FALLOON. Witnesses:

R. F. Oscoop, J. A. Davis. 

